Why No DREAMGIRLS Yet?- Page 2

[George in DC]

Posted: 2/12/22 at 10:48pm

The only time Dreamgirls has totally worked on stage is with the original Michael Bennett staging. Even the tour, cut down, did not work entirely. If it's nit the Bennett staging, I won't see this again.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 1:49pm

George in DC said: "The only time Dreamgirls has totally worked on stage is with the original Michael Bennett staging. Even the tour, cut down, did not work entirely. If it's nit the Bennett staging, I won't see this again."

I feel exactly the same way. The original Bennett staging has never been replicated in any of the recent revivals/revisals and that staging was also a huge part of this show's success because audiences never saw anything like it before. It was cinema-on-stage. 

It would love to see a new generation exposed to the brilliance of that staging so they understand what made that original production so magical. 

Bring it all back: the staging/choreography, the libretto, the costumes, the lighting, the orchestrations, those magnificent gliding towers and the catwalks...bring back everything that made this show one-of-a-kind.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 2:30pm

George in DC said: "The only time Dreamgirls has totally worked on stage is with the original Michael Bennett staging. Even the tour, cut down, did not work entirely. If it's nit the Bennett staging, I won't see this again."

Agreed. I didn’t see the West End revival, but Casey seems like an all around wrong choice to direct, as well. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 3:10pm

JBroadway said: "Even so, it's interesting to consider that some of the criticism of her performance at the time was that she came across very young for the role - and now she's 35. I'd be curious to see her return to the role."

I wonder what has changed over the decades that has led to this "person is too young for the role" thing that keeps coming up for roles that are meant to be young. Lorrell isn't even 18 when the show starts. Effie and Deena aren't meant to be that much older than her, so in what world is a woman in her late 20s/early 30s too young to play Effie. I mean Jennifer Holliday was 21. I see the same for other roles too. Jill Haworth was 21 when she originated Sally Bowles. Liza wasn't even 30 when did it in the film, but now you can't seem to cast anyone younger than 35 without hearing that they're "too young". I can't help but think the real problem is people are too old for the roles they're playing. 

[binau]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 3:17pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "George in DC said: "The only time Dreamgirls has totally worked on stage is with the original Michael Bennett staging. Even the tour, cut down, did not work entirely. If it's nit the Bennett staging, I won't see this again."

Agreed. I didn’t see the West End revival, but Casey seems like an all around wrong choice to direct, as well."

I did and I found the whole thing so mediocre (I don’t mean bad, just nothing special at all). I don’t understand why this revival has been allegedly trying so hard to come to Broadway. Surely there is a more inspired way to revive this show. 

[LaneBryant]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 3:27pm

Y'all, they did a workshop for the revival in 2019. Jailen Josey was indeed Effie, with Hailey Kilgore as Deena. The cast was all young, 20-something, talented as hell. A combo of finding the right theatre and timing halted it. Before you "who is your source" me to death, I was in the workshop. Carry on. 

[tbaker2]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 3:44pm

Who else was in the workshop cast? Do you mind sharing? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/13/22 at 5:02pm

“Hailey Kilgore as Deena”

I don’t hate that AT ALL.

[silent]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 10:39pm

Bennett staging AND Deena needs to be brown-skinned. Most of the revivals keep casting lighter Deenas. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 5:34pm

Flipping channels and the God-awful film is on and made me want to ask again WHY NO F’IN DREAMGIRLS REVIVAL YET?!??

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 7:02pm

I think they need to ditch the Bennet staging. My generation - and younger ones - have zero recollection of it, so why are we clinging to it? Give us a fresh take on it. Give me some SANGERS and give some creative, interesting staging. 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 7:13pm

I could be fine with a new staging, in theory, so long as they ditch any and all changes to the material that have followed the movie version. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 7:37pm

I love Amber a lot, but I hope any new production skews younger with casting. Perhaps even a nationwide casting call for all three Dreams to introduce new talent. Dreamgirls is one of those shows that doesn't need stars to work. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 8:00pm

Agreed. "Listen" is a great song, but it doesn't work at all because that character is suppose to be a hack. 

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:08pm

RippedMan said: "Agreed. "Listen" is a great song, but it doesn't work at all because that character is suppose to be a hack."

I saw the West End production and I actually enjoyed the duet version of Listen. The lyrics are updated from the prior duet version used in US tours and are much better now imo. The song does a nice job exploring Deena and Effie’s thoughts and regrets regarding their falling out and then eventual reconciliation 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:24pm

RippedMan said: "I think they need to ditch the Bennet staging. My generation - and younger ones - have zero recollection of it, so why are we clinging to it? Give us a fresh take on it. Give me some SANGERS and give some creative, interesting staging."

Seriously? The Bennett staging was EVERYTHING. And it had SANGERS… so WTF are you even blabbing on about?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:27pm

Doesn’t matter if people “don’t know the Bennett staging”, when they see the show they will know it. Ditching that is like ditching Effie. But all the cuts/edits from the film version have to go, they have to. If you want to hear “Listen”, listen to it on your phone after the show. Ditching the confrontation/resolution between Effie and Deena was the biggest mistake they ever let happen to the show and it’s suffered, ever since. 

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:31pm

What they need to do is put Lorell’s song back- I’m still so bitter that they gave us Anika Noni Rose and we didn’t get to hear her slay that! 

[Kavana]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:42pm

Most of the show is set backstage, what kind of staging do you want to see?  LED screens??

Hudson, Riley, Frenchie Davis, Moya Angela are all great vocalists but they did not rip the roofs off with their AITY. They were just ok. Producers cannot accept just ok for this show. All of the roles are iconic and I'm sure they would want vocal beasts. Effie does not work if she is giving us trained vocals. Holliday, White, and Lewis gave raw vocal techniques, No one can be lacking from the dreams to Jimmy.

If the show does make it to Bway, Effie needs to be an unknown or Jazmine Sullivan, she's the only person I can see doing that role justice

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:42pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Doesn’t matter if people “don’t know the Bennett staging”, when they see the show they will know it. Ditching that is like ditching Effie. But all the cuts/edits from the film version have to go, they have to. If you want to hear “Listen”, listen to it on your phone after the show. Ditching the confrontation/resolution between Effie and Deena was the biggest mistake they ever let happen to the show and it’s suffered, ever since."

This whole statement is: OVURRRRT…. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/6/22 at 10:47pm

What does that mean?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 4:54pm

Jordan Catalano said: "What does that mean?"

It means YOU hit the nail on the head with your statement. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/7/22 at 6:27pm

CarlosAlberto said: "RippedMan said: "I think they need to ditch the Bennet staging. My generation - and younger ones - have zero recollection of it, so why are we clinging to it? Give us a fresh take on it. Give me some SANGERS and give some creative, interesting staging."

Seriously? The Bennett staging was EVERYTHING. And it had SANGERS… so WTF are you even blabbing on about?"

You responded to what I said, so clearly you understood what I was blabbering about. 

Anyway, I disagree whole heartedly. I don't think a show is tied to one staging as has been evidence by so many terrific revivals over the years. I think it's a fantastic show and I don't think it needs much to be successful. I enjoyed the movie, and I've seen the Bennett staging with Holliday in Atlanta and she was fantastic, but the rest of the production was fine. I don't think anything in the staging was all that impressive and sounds like the same with the West End which were all recreations. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/22/23 at 9:27pm

It's time Sonia Friedman...

Alex Newell as Effie enough said! 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 5/22/23 at 11:56pm

Robbie2 said: "It's time Sonia Friedman...

Alex Newell as Effie enough said!"

Sounds good in concept, but I suspect Alex would have an issue with being able to get through the show 6-8x a week without calling out a lot.